Catania (Italy). On 27 and 28 September 2025, the Superior General of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Mother Chiara Cazzuola, together with the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard, participated in the celebrations in Catania for the 50th of the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) of Sicily. Sister Lidia Strzelczyk, Visiting Councilor, was also present at the events.
On 26 September, in the afternoon, Mother, again in Sicily one year after the 30th of the beatification of Mother Morano, arrived in Catania at the Provincial House of Mother Maddalena Morano Province (ISI) welcomed by the Provincial, Sister Angela Maria Maccioni, by the Provincial Councilors, by some students of Mary Help of Christians Institute, members of the Educating Community, FMA of the community, and by a representation of young people from the SYM, responsible for preparing the Celebration for the 50th.
In the evening, she met the Provincial Council, which welcomed the gift of her word and experienced an enriching discussion on the topic, How to help educating communities build a vocational environment. Mother, referring to her participation in the UISG Assembly (5-9 May) on the theme, “Consecrated Life: A Hope that Transforms”, suggested taking care of environmental pedagogy as a fundamental element to make the question about Consecrated Life flourish in young people. She underlined the importance of collaboration with lay people, who must be accompanied to live Christian spirituality and the Salesian educational charism.
On the morning of September 27, she met with the Animators of the 23 Communities of the Province, with them she held a dialogue on, How to animate educating communities according to the charism and challenges of today starting from, “it is time to rekindle the fire”, dedicating a time of listening to the experiences and questions.
In the afternoon, accompanied by the Provincial, the Vicar, and the Provincial Secretary, she reached the headquarters of Saint Paul Province (ISI) of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Many FMA from nearby cities, all the Animators, the young people of the SYM, the Salesian confreres, and the members of the Salesian Family filled the courtyard, which until a few hours earlier had been inaccessible due to heavy rain.
The Mayor of Catania, Lawyer Enrico Trantino, granted honorary citizenship to Fr. Fabio Attard and Mother Chiara Cazzuola, in the presence of the Bishop of Catania, Monsignor Luigi Renna, of the President of the Sicily Region, Hon. Renato Schifani, of other political and civil authorities, and of the mayors of neighboring Towns.
This is a significant symbolic gesture, an expression of a strong bond between the city and a testimony of communion in celebrating 140th of the presence of the SDBs in Catania and the 145th of the presence of the FMA desired by the then Card. Blessed Benedetto Dusmet and begun in Catania in 1880, with the sending by Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello of the first three Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. As Archbishop Renna pointed out, “the Blessed wanted the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians for the education of girls. Mother Mazzarello sent her sister, Sister Felicina, and the teacher, Sister Maddalena Morano to Bronte. And the greatest work is to have brought out, from a world that was a bit closed, the girls, the women… It is a story that continues, because it has educated generations, politicians, persons of culture and entertainment, who began in your theaters.”
The lectio magistralis of the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard, “Called to be signs of hope”, concluded the various interventions of the authorities present which were followed by the honorary award. Mother Chiara expressed her emotion “because great stories arise from small things and small people, who however, rely on the great Providence of God.” She then took up a word from the Rector Major, TOGETHER, saying, “I think that never before have we been called to live together, to help each other educate young people together and that all together this evening we experience the joy of being a great Salesian Family, who at this moment can thank the point of reference, Fr. Fabio Attard, 11th successor of Don Bosco.” He then expressed gratitude to all the FMAs who have followed one another in history since the beginning and have built this great dream that today belongs to everyone. (video)
Mother and the Rector Major participated fully in the 50th celebration of the SYM with the theme, Witnesses of Joy. Heirs of a story, which took place on the morning of Sunday 28 September at the Metropolitan cinema theater in Catania, crowded with young people from the various Salesian realities of the island.
The animation in the theater was divided into 5 stages, emphasizing a verb for each decade: Dreaming, Setting fire, Fortifying, Testifying, Walking. The real protagonists were the young people, engaged on several fronts: reception, security, direction, musical representation, and choreography, with some testimonies from the pioneers of the SYM of Sicily who “set the boot on fire”, to use an expression of Fr. Egidio Viganò. On stage, FMA and SDB were remembered with immense gratitude who have succeeded one another over time in support of the Movement, including those now in the Salesian paradise
Mother Chiara and Fr. Fabio, called to the last verb – to walk – were interviewed by the young presenter about the question: “What are the challenges for our future, as SYM?”
“First of all, the challenge of peace”, Mother replied. “It begins from the heart of each of us; it begins from the gestures of peace that we are capable of making in everyday life. And then surely the challenge of testimony, of credibility, in a culture that attempts to undo the sense of God, of commitment, of solidarity. I think you young people in particular have the energy to make the world better in that respect.”
“The best thing is that we do not give the message, but we received it from you, a breath of oxygen that we need so much”, added the Rector Major. And he continued, “We do not underestimate the personal decision of each of us, especially when we are together. Look at reality, assume it, and give an response. Our beginnings as a Salesian Family are humble, simple, but clear; in the face of poverty, we do not look the other way, we take it as a challenge on a personal level. What does God want from me? When this question becomes communal, no one and nothing stops us, because we become leaven.”
Fr. Fabio finally invited young people to take control of their lives, discovering it as a gift “where God loves you and wants to be loved through you. The oratory is a womb that makes one grow and then go out to give life to others. Full speed ahead, it’s your turn!”
Mother Chiara, for her part, encouraged them to move forward, remembering that “we are all under the mantle of Mary, who took each one of us to heart. Don’t be afraid of anything, never be scared, not even in the face of life’s trials. And be a light. We may be a very small light, but a light that shines and light can contagion. Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello have invested so much in this aspect; the Salesian vocation is also realized through contagion.”
The morning ended with the mandate to the young people of the Rector Major and Mother, to continue the journey of the SYM Sicily with enthusiasm and trust. (video)
After lunch in the FMA Provincial House, together with the Animators and the SDB Directors and the members of the Regional Council of the Salesian Family, the Rector Major and Mother participated in the Jubilee pilgrimage from Villa Bellini in Catania, where the young people stopped for their lunch and stand games, up to the Cathedral of St. Agatha.
The procession, opened by the Rector Major and Mother, took place along Via Etnea, under the amazed gaze of pleased citizens and tourists in front of the long and colorful procession of young people who, escorted by flag-wavers, crossed the threshold of the Cathedral, where the solemn Eucharistic celebration took place presided over by the Rector Major and animated by the youth choir of the SYM of Sicily. (video)
“Let us place ourselves, like Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello, in the hands of God. Let us realize that we are called; we are a mission. Let us light the light of hope, even small, but alive enough to be a contagious light, in a world that desperately needs bright people, full of hope, who can communicate the future in the present and make the present a perspective of meaning and dignity for all.” Thus ended the homily Fr. Fabio Attard.
These two days ended with an explosion of gratitude to the Lord for the happy realization of the long-prepared event and the hope that in the year of the Jubilee of Hope, the shared mission ‘for and with young people of all members of the Salesian Family will continue to be a prophecy of the future.
Photos: Flickr FMA
